Twenty-One ‘21s To Watch In 2020 – Part 3

Just over halfway… let’s take a look at Part 3 where we will wrap up the twenty-one available players from the Class of 2021 that would be great at the next level. [caption id="attachment_100883" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100883" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/bu-mackenzie-leach-3-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80737" first="Mackenzie" last="Leach"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80737" first="Mackenzie" last="Leach"] – 5’7 – Defensive Specialist/Outside Hitter - Burlington We saw Leach step into the role of outside hitter for the Burlington squad making another appearance at the Resch. I love when players take on another role to help their team be successful. Leach is always making big defensive plays for the Demons, but her consistency and craftiness at the net was on display in 2019. She is rock solid in serve-receive, and I’d love to see her find a program to play in 2021. [player_tooltip player_id="80714" first="Mariah" last="Grunze"] – 6’0 – Outside Hitter – Waterford At 6’0 with the ability to terminate from either pin, Grunze has a whole toolbox to get points. She is an active hitter who can score at the net, from the back row, or the service line. Grunze is a physical presence at the net with a high contact point and a terminal swing from anywhere to anywhere on the court. [caption id="attachment_100886" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100886" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC09458-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80729" first="Molly" last="Lawlis"] playing in grass quads.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80729" first="Molly" last="Lawlis"] – 5’10 – Middle Blocker - Pacelli Lawlis was a big part of the Central Wisconsin South Conference Championship Team from Pacelli in 2019. She is a strong middle blocker who can quickly get from pin to pin and then quickly transition to take a fast approach and terminate with a fast swing. It’s no wonder she was the Conference Player of The Year since she has a high volleyball IQ in order to find the open spot on the court.   Monica LaFleur – 6’2 – Middle Blocker - Arrowhead LaFleur will be one of the go-to players for Arrowhead where she takes command of the net in the middle. She will be heading into her senior season after winning a Division 1 State Championship. LaFleur will be looking to build off her career so far with the ability to keep developing into a really strong player. [caption id="attachment_100889" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100889" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/OW-Morgan-Yenter-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80723" first="Morgan" last="Yenter"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80723" first="Morgan" last="Yenter"] – 5’11 – Setter – Oshkosh West Yenter has been playing her club ball in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for Sting with [player_tooltip player_id="80737" first="Mackenzie" last="Leach"], [player_tooltip player_id="33734" first="Lakyn" last="Graves"], and Monica LaFleur. A solid and consistent player in all six rotations, she will be part of a trio of returning blockers for the Wildcats with [player_tooltip player_id="80748" first="Randi" last="Wellhoefer"] (2021 - 6’2 - Middle Blocker) and [player_tooltip player_id="80725" first="Natalie" last="Johanknecht"] (2021 - 6’0 - Middle Blocker - Committed to UW-Green Bay), who will present quite a challenge for opposing outside hitters. [caption id="attachment_100890" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100890" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC00381-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80733" first="Robyn" last="Kirsch"] playing in grass quads.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80733" first="Robyn" last="Kirsch"] – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Wausau West Kirsch is a highly underrated athlete coming out of Central Wisconsin. She has an explosive vertical as well as a powerful swing. Kirsch would be a huge pick-up for any school looking for track or softball standouts as well, since she is exceptional at all 3. She was the "go-to" six-rotation outside for Wausau West in 2019 and will be a major force in the Wisconsin Valley Conference this upcoming season.   [caption id="attachment_100891" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100891" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/cc-sammie-seib-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80726" first="Sammie" last="Seib"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80726" first="Sammie" last="Seib"] – 5’7 – Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist – Catholic Central Seib has a solid all-around game, and she can defend and swing with the best of them. Catholic Central will definitely be a team to watch again this upcoming season with Seib and [player_tooltip player_id="80766" first="Grace" last="Antlfinger"] (2021 – 5’5 – Libero) returning. The Hilltoppers won’t lose many players to graduation, so the experience returning could definitely make the difference. [caption id="attachment_100892" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100892" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/N-Stevie-Samuels-9-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="80838" first="Stevie" last="Samuels"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80838" first="Stevie" last="Samuels"] – 5’4 – Setter - Newman Samuels will run the show for Newman Catholic and does so in a quiet positive manner, making her an unseen threat. You probably won’t hear her coming, and she won’t pose a physical threat, but she has a high volleyball IQ and knows just how to use the weapons around her. Samuels can run a fast tempo offense and be a sneaky offensive threat as well, while being a very strong defensive player.   [caption id="attachment_100893" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100893" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/ice17p-sydney-lilienthal-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Sydney Lilienthal[/caption] Sydney Lilienthal – 6’0 – Pin Hitter – Wisconsin Valley Lutheran Let’s not forget about a small school standout in Lilienthal. The 6’0 pin hitter from this small private school in Central Wisconsin can be absolutely lights out and could lead them into a postseason run in 2020. She averaged over 4 kills per set in 2019, and she is a killer threat from the service line. I truly believe Lilienthal’s best volleyball is still to come, and I think she will show us this fall. [caption id="attachment_100894" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-100894" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/ice-18n-taylor-barwick-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Taylor Barwick[/caption] Taylor Barwick – 5’7 – Setter - Marshfield Marshfield has been on the climb in the Wisconsin Valley Conference with an 8-4 record last year with some impressive wins over Wausau West and SPASH, as well as battles with Merrill. Barwick is a constant as a setter and then attacking as a left-handed right side hitter. She can run the show and will have her best season yet in 2020 with returning weapons, Brooklyn Boushack (2021 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker), [player_tooltip player_id="80847" first="Alani" last="Carter"] (2021 - 5’7 – Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker), and [player_tooltip player_id="81338" first="Casey" last="Frankland"] (2022 – 5’8 – Pin Hitter).